Office of the President > Strategic Directions > Vision 2018 News > Vision 2018 Fourth Year Photo Narrative
Vision 2018 Fourth Year Photo Narrative
/ 3/23/2017 / Posted in: 2016-2017 News / / Facebook /
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Not every strategic accomplishment can be plotted on a chart with the requisite upward-facing arrow showing the desired progress. Much of our success in Vision 2018 is better illustrated through vignettes. Check out highlights of the Vision 2018 Fourth Year in Review photo narrative below, or the full report on the President's website. A comprehensive metrics report is available there as well.
New Music Facility
New Music Facility to Enhance Teaching and Performance
DePaul broke ground on a new School of Music building that will elevate the university’s teaching of music and performance. The facility will deliver new teaching studios and rehearsal spaces as well as a concert hall, two recital halls and a jazz hall. It is scheduled to open in fall 2018. School of Music graduates have gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships, and the Thelonious Monk Competition. In 2015 alone, students and alumni performed around the world, including the International Chopin Piano Competition, Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Opera House London.
Film Studio Space
Expanded Professional Film Studio Space
Responding to tremendous growth in the digital cinema program, DePaul increased by 60 percent the footprint the university occupies at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. The addition of 12,250 square feet of professional space offers students two new soundstages, two classrooms, two editing studios, and an equipment cage where students can borrow sophisticated cameras and stage lighting. DePaul’s new film studio space enables more on-site classes, capacity for larger-scale productions and use of one of the largest green screens in the Midwest.
Journalism Integrity
New Academic Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence
Headed by local investigative political reporter Carol Marin and producer Don Moseley, the newly established Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence teaches students investigative reporting techniques and offers opportunities to contribute to investigative projects for a variety of media platforms. Marin and Moseley joined DePaul as faculty in the College of Communication and are co-directors of the new center that serves as a bridge between the academic and professional worlds at a time when journalism is undergoing a significant transformation.
New Path to Health Career
New Paths to Health Careers Opened
DePaul’s reputation for health care education is growing, due in large part to the Alliance for Health Sciences with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). Some programs connect DePaul undergraduates directly to graduate programs at RFUMS, including accelerated pathways into medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, physical therapy, physician assistant practice and pathologists’ assistant practice. The new Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice program is in high demand now that it is available both in Lincoln Park and North Chicago on the Rosalind Franklin campus.
Online Soar
Online Classes Expand and Enrollments Soar
Increased flexibility in DePaul’s course delivery modes is meeting the needs of the modern student. The university now adheres to the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, enabling DePaul to deliver online programs in all 50 states. For example, any qualified student anywhere in the country can enroll in the College of Business’ fully online Master of Science in accountancy or Master in Taxation programs. Overall online credit hours have increased more than 70 percent between 2012 and 2016 and now constitute 13 percent of the university’s credit hours.
Employer Outreach
Corporate Employer Outreach Program
DePaul’s Corporate Employer Outreach program has forged 17 new corporate partnership contracts with health care, banking and other Chicago companies since it began in 2014. Nearly 300 employees at organizations ranging from Walgreens to Lurie Children’s Hospital are enrolled in DePaul’s business, technology and health care programs, conveniently delivered at their work sites to support Chicago’s business community and the area’s many corporate headquarters.
Adjunct Faculty
Embracing Adjunct Faculty
DePaul instituted new initiatives to engage adjunct faculty more deeply in the university community and recognize their contributions. Several improvements are already in place, such as multicourse contracts and an increase in the course cancellation fee. New benefits, easily accessible teaching support resources and grants to improve teaching and learning, are now available to term and adjunct faculty. Meanwhile, a task force completed a report on new ways to give part-time faculty more of a voice in enhancing their experience at DePaul.
Low-Income Students
Low-Income Students Find Success and Graduate
DePaul’s low-income students graduate at higher rates than national competitors and on par with students from higher-income families. At most universities, there is a significant difference in graduation rates between students who receive Pell grants and those who do not. At DePaul, that difference is only 2 percentage points, while the average institutional completion gap nationally is 6 percentage points. Students who received MAP financial aid graduate at virtually the same rate (74.1 percent over six years) as Illinois students with higher family incomes (74.4 percent).
Diversity Action Plan
Diversity Action Plan
Racism became a topic of national conversation this year, and this dialogue was reflected at DePaul as students, faculty, and staff wrestled with issues of race and speech. In response, the President’s Diversity Council developed an initial action plan to address concerns about racism, micro-aggression and other issues African-American students and others presented to administrators. DePaul is stepping up training on explicit and implicit bias and conflict resolution, while reviewing policies and processes to foster a more welcoming campus climate.
Vincentian Tribute
Vincentian Tribute
To commemorate the Vincentians who established DePaul University more than a century ago and those who continued that legacy into the 21st century, a memorial site has been established on the Lincoln Park Campus. An installation of four 11-foot-tall red granite panels inscribed with the names of every Vincentian who served at DePaul is the centerpiece of this area, which offers limestone benches, a timepiece, complementary landscaping and special lighting. Located outside Arts and Letters Hall, this is the latest addition to DePaul’s extensive collection of Vincentian-oriented art around campus and also marks the 200th anniversary of the Vincentians’ arrival in the United States.
Chicago Public Schools
Commitment to Chicago Public Schools
DePaul has a long-standing and deep commitment to the Chicago Public Schools. Recently, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, DePaul created the Cities Project for 180 K-12 students in three Chicago Public Schools who experience high stress in their urban environment. DePaul students serve as mentors and community support staff for group activities in this effective intervention program. Its success as a pilot has garnered support for expansion to four more universities and additional public schools. Graduate students gain training in therapy and supervision, while undergrads learn to work with kids and earn service learning credit.
